Rose Mart Centre

Growing orchids such as the cattleya is known to be one of the most difficult jobs an orchid grower can get himself into. And this is with valid reasons. Unlike ordinary orchids, this kind needs very specific conditions to be successfully cultivated. And if you have done this the right way you would have one of the most incredible kinds of orchids and at the same time one of the most costly.

Orchids, when classified according to significance and exquisiteness, cattleya orchids will surely top the list. That is why no matter how hard and complicated growing cattleya orchids may be, many growers still set out on the journey and try their green thumbs on them.

Knowing the fundamentals of growing orchids will not be sufficient with this genus of orchid. They have certain requirements a grower must follow to ensure success. The fundamental light, water and plant food rules do not apply to this genus of orchid. In fact, because of their "needy" character they were at one time the orchids that expert growers dubbed as the "untouchables" for beginners. It is said that to cultivate a cattleya you must know it personally first.

To aid you with your journey of intimately knowing this specific orchid, here are 3 well-kept tricks in cultivating them:

Shelter Me

If you wish to successfully cultivate orchids such as cattleyas, then you must have some kind of greenhouse. These orchids are very tough, if not really impossible, to cultivate outdoors. Yes, there are certain areas, such as some locations in Florida and other nearby states, that they can successfully flourish, but even there they can be very hard and complicated to handle. Growing them indoors on the other hand, has been found to be fairly successful.

Inside structures, such as greenhouses and Wardian cases, the adequate moistuire and warmth can be manipulated and therefore attained. For these orchids to flourish properly there must be as much as 60% to 70% humidity during the day and a temperature no lower than 55°F to 60°F. Not having this certain set of conditions will result in a dry orchid or worse, a dead one.

More Sunlight But Not Too Much

Another difficult part of cultivating cattleya orchids is its light needs. Compared to your normal orchid, they need more light but too much can destroy it. The tropical sunlight may be the ideal kind of light for cultivating these orchids, but in any other places, this type of orchid cannot take the quality of summer sunlight. If you wish to be successful in cultivating cattleyas, then you need to follow this simple rule when providing them sunlight. It's a lot of work, but it is very effective.

Put them in direct sunlight during summer only in the mornings and late afternoons. From 11:00AM to 3:00PM, NEVER expose them to direct sunlight or they'll burn. If you are finding this tough to do manually you can try to place them under the shade of a larger tree or plant. This will provide the same protection as moving them manually at certain time periods.

Osmunda - The Perfect Match

When cultivating orchids that are ephiphytes (like the cattleya orchids), the most ideal choice for a potting medium is osmunda. This compost has a lot of fiber, moisture, and is a good source of humidity for an orchid. Like any other orchid, one sure way to kill it is to over-water it. A good way to know if you are over-watering is your compost will start to grow ferns and moss.

When potting, be sure to align the grains of the osmunda parallel to the axis of the pot. This will help in the correct drainage of water. Never ever use too much osmunda; just enough fiber from this medium will ensure that the roots of your cattleyas will be flourishing.

Do not forget when cultivating orchids like cattleyas, be sure to follow these simple expert secrets to ensure your success. Cattleyas are one of the most incredible type of orchids to cultivate. The are not too difficult, just as long as you follow their specific needs for proper cultivation. These 3 expert tricks should get you headed in the right direction.

Orchids grow in all types of conditions from those of the rain forest to the arctic circle. With such an ability to adapt to diversity and just about every possible environment, it would seem that they would have no problem being cultivated in homes and gardens.

With selection from the 30,000 species of orchids now identified and hybrids, which number in the 200,000 to 300,000 range, it should be easy to choose the perfect orchid to grow in your particular location.

Still, orchids have the reputation of being hard to grow. Many of them are indeed difficult but there are so many thousands of orchids, it is usually pretty easy to find one that will successfully grow inside or outside wherever you are located. If you are a beginner, you should start with a mature plant to grow your first orchid.

Growing orchids from seeds is almost impossible. They need sterile conditions and the presence of a special fungus, without which an orchid can never germinate. This is why even orchids send out thousands of seeds having only one or two successfully germinate. It is possible to propagate by division and this is an easier method. Just remember that it could take up to eight years before a plant started in this manner flowers.

Orchids don't follow many general rules but this one applies to most orchids: Place your orchids, whether inside or outside, in a spot where they will get lots of light. Because light hours are so limited in the winter in colder climates, you will most likely want to install artificial lights to help them grow. While there is some disagreement whether to use grow lights or other types, the choice will depend on the species of orchid you intend to grow. Check at purchase to see if it needs very high intensity lights or not.

Orchids are not one of those plants you can never water and ignore for months at a time. While they definitely don't like to be over-watered, orchids do like a once-per-week watering. They should dry out between one watering and the next, but they should never be completely dry. Also, be careful about watering an orchid that was just replanted or has been disturbed in some way. Orchids are also not terribly fond of the dry air created in the winter by most of today's furnaces. You will most likely need to get a humidifier. Most orchids love hot, humid weather and are not unhappy even with 70% to 80% humidity.

Orchids are fertilizer-lovers. They should be kept fertilized throughout the growing season and especially when they are flowering as most flower for an extended period of time. There is always controversy among gardeners about what fertilizer is best. Overall, liquid fertilizer is preferred. But you can go completely organic, such as with fish emulsions or fertilizer from worm castings. Or, you can use synthetic fertilizers such as 10-10-10, 30-10-10 or 10-10-30. Specific orchid fertilizers are also available.

As for the growing medium itself, everyone has their own favorite formula. It also depends on the type of orchid you are growing. You can use fir bark, coconut fiber, sphagnum moss, peat moss, roots of dried fern, cork, or lava rock, to name several. A few orchid plants, such as cymbidiums and paphiopedilums, are considered terrestrials and can grow in soil.

Cattleyas, Epidendrumns, Oncidiums, and Laelias are the easiest orchids for beginners. Be patient with whichever type of orchid you plant. Your efforts will be rewarded in time with beautiful flowers which are long-lasting.

Growing orchids and other plants is actually very similar. In order to be healthy, all plants have the same basic care requirements, which are water, sun, food, air and warmth. Orchids are no different in the types of requirements, only in the amounts of each basic need. This is also true for different kinds of orchids - each one needs different amounts of each category.

Giving orchids care begins with providing the right humidity level for the type of orchid you intend to grow. Generally speaking, orchids need between 40% and 70% humidity day after day. While most plants control water evaporation, orchids cannot, and are constantly in a state of losing water. The only controlling factor is the amount of humidity in the air. Know how much humidity your orchid is going to require before purchasing it.

If you are growing orchids, you need to supply continuous atmospheric moisture, whether it be by hosing the garden or inside, by spraying the plants, setting them over trays of water or keeping them in a container such as a glass environment where you can control the humidity levels. Humidity is not a problem in cold weather. You should follow periods of humidity by a time of drying out. This is similar to having morning sun followed by an afternoon shower, and then morning sun once again the next day.

Air is another necessity of orchids. In nature, orchids often grow up trees because they have excellent air circulation. Even though all plants pull carbon dioxide from the air, orchids are extremely efficient about it. It is essential to have good ventilation to grow healthy orchids indoors. A good source of air circulation is a ceiling fan. Even indoor orchids need fresh clean air inside so open a window whenever possible. If it's cold outside, arrange it so the air is warmed before it hits the plants. For example, open the window from the top and not the bottom.

Place your orchids where they will get the most sunlight they can without suffering any ill effects, such as sunburn. Orchids need lots of light--around ten hours per day. This light should not be at full intensity at all times so start them out in the sun and then move them to shadier spots or filter the light through curtains until you achieve the desired effect.

Orchids need to be protected from frost and snow. Many orchids grow naturally where temperatures dip well below freezing. In the Andes, for instance, temperatures in the 20s are not terribly uncommon. But you must be very attentive to colder temperatures, and orchids that do experience cooler temperatures must remain dry. Cold and wet are not good conditions for growing orchids. Cooler orchids are those said to need a temperature averaging fifty degrees. Check out temperature charts online or in orchid books for which orchids do best at certain temperatures.

Your orchids need to be fed. You cannot ignore this step of giving orchids care. Some growers still argue about what orchids need to be fed and how much. But, especially if you are a beginner, you will want to do everything possible to have healthy orchids.

Begin by using orchid liquid fertilizer, whether it be synthetic or organic. Most orchids today are planted in osmunda, or dead fern roots, which decomposes. Always check your orchids for yellowish or brownish discolorations which might mean the plants are malnourished. Check out recipes for nutrient fertilizers online.

You should have no difficulty at all growing orchids successfully if you meet these basics of orchid care and culture. As long as they have the basics of food, air, humidity, protection and light, orchids will respond positively.